“Maybe life is so painful right now that numb actually sounds appealing to you. If so, I want you to know we have a God . . . who not only feels for Himself but comes close to us when we’re feeling all our feelings too. God is waiting for us to come to Him with all of it. Even the ugly feelings you and I are tempted to judge — God is waiting to see if we’ll let them draw us back to Him.”- Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen concludes Chapter 4 of Untangle Your Emotions as she talks about our links to a fuller and richer life. Notes of music or shades of color bring texture to our lives. And emotions serve the same purpose. Because at times emotions reveal something about our humanity as well as the lives we’re living.
Most significantly, Jennifer notes, the Christian faith historically viewed the soul as consisting of three parts – thoughts, emotions, and will. Certainly, we wield great power over our thought lives. Yet, when we intentionally choose gratitude, service, and connection, it’s possible to shift our minds. Often that also brings healing to our emotional lives.
Furthermore, most of that power originates from the third part of the soul: our will. Therefore, as humans, we possess power and choice. In addition, Jennifer presents this image:
“Think of your soul as a train, with a single engine pulling the cars. If your emotions are the engine, they’re going to take you off a cliff! But if your will, submitted to God, is powering your trust, then your emotions and thoughts are free to follow, connected securely so everything travels together in beauty and freedom and safety. . .
Through our choices we determine whether our will and thoughts either help or undermine our ability to live wholeheartedly.
Consequently, if numb actually sounds appealing to you at the present time, know that God desires to pull you close today and hold you.
Today’s question: Do you let your ugly feelings draw you closer to God? Please share.
Coming Monday: the April Short Meditation, “See that smile on my Savior’s face”
Tomorrow’s blog: “Engage directly or resist”
